February 19, 2026
The Liturgy of the Word today places before us an obvious choice. In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses says to the people: “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom.” God respects our freedom, yet he urgently invites us: “Choose life.” The Gospel according to Saint Luke shows us the concrete […]
February 18, 2026
Ash Wednesday Today, we begin our penitential journey through the forty days of Lent as we prepare to celebrate the central mystery of our faith: the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. As we begin our journey, we are challenged by the prophet Joel to rend our hearts. Many of our hearts have been rent […]
February 17, 2026
Preparing for Lent implies we’re also preparing for change. Today’s gospel ends with Mark writing, “He said to them, ‘Do you still not understand?’” It implies that the very obvious (to us) is initially missed by the disciples. And today’s epistle begins with James encouraging people who have embraced the Eucharist in their lives: […]
February 16, 2026
Mark 8:11-13 connects to the Eucharist by highlighting the Pharisees’ demand for a sign, which Jesus denies, instead pointing to himself as the true sign, the Bread of Life, foreshadowing how He is truly present in the “breaking of the bread” (Eucharist) where we receive Him as spiritual food for eternal life, not just temporary […]
February 15, 2026
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time We speak of a wisdom to those who are mature…we speak God’s wisdom, mysterious, hidden… The gospel reading today presents us with the Ten Commandments and our call to be faithful in living these precepts in our daily lives. They are the touchstone of our moral lives. Oftentimes, the measure […]
February 14, 2026
Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop Today’s reading incorporates a history lesson of political and religious maneuvers following the death of King Solomon (1 Kings 12:26-32) and the worship of false gods (verses 28-32). Humanity tends to take the path of least resistance, often failing to consider that we are provided with a […]
February 13, 2026
A healing word of God in the responsorial psalm asks, “If only my people would hear me, and Israel walk in my ways.” Jesus is traveling to the peripheries, the Decapolis, and the people recognize him as one who has healing powers. They brought a fellow who was unable to hear or speak clearly to Jesus. Helpless […]
February 12, 2026
Today, we have one of the most amazing stories in the four Gospels: the exchange between Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman. It appears that Jesus, exhausted from so many people seeking healing, wanted some “downtime “with his friends, away from the crowds. But a Greek woman “intrudes” upon his peaceful break and falls at his […]
February 11, 2026
Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes There is no record of Saint Peter Julian ever visiting Lourdes, which did not become a pilgrimage site until 1876, 8 years after his death. But his own deep devotion to Our Lady might have drawn him in prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes! In today’s Gospel, Our […]
February 10, 2026
“Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth? If the highest heavens cannot contain you, how much less this temple which I have built” (1 Kings 8:27). Even at the height of Israel’s glory, Solomon knew that no structure—however large and sacred—could contain the living God. The heavens themselves are too small. And yet, […]